First Look of the The NEW 2012 SB series (S13?)

I'd guess the reason PCs doesn't have good touchpads is that the manufacturers just doesn't care. Didn't some Vaio Z models even use ALPS touchpads (that I never seen anyone like)? Can't be a cost issue...

 

cost aint a problem if you run the company right, not like sony has been doing for the past several years.

 

I don't think there will be major changes until Windows 8 launches, which is only a few months away. Till then we'll just see minor refreshes. Touchpads are expected to improve with Win 8 as demoed in this concept video:

Synaptics ClickPad Experience on Windows 8 Concept - YouTube

 

touchpads can be vastly improved with properly-implemented drivers; no need to wait for Windows 8. alas, the manufacturers refuse to do so.

 

Has just been announced on Sony Europe, I'm more looking forward to Sony Asia announcement of models but interesting stuff.

S13 has optional VAIO Display Premium (1080p? probably 900p so as not to compete with Z Series) and the docking station has 500GB hard drive built in, which is really, really awesome as now I can get a model with SSD drives and when I get home and put it on the docking station, all my music will be in there.

Doesn't look like the S13 has a choice of quad-core i7 though..which really sucks.

 

No 35W QC? Rats, cross this one off my list then.
Probably runs too hot to manage with inadequate cooling.

 

Look what appeared in a German tech site...
Sony Vaio S13 mit Ultraflachen Design, NVidia Grafik und Slot in Laufwerk ab 849 Euro | TechFokus
Sony Vaio S13A mit BluRay, LTE und SSD vorgestellt | TechFokus
Points that called my attention:
Unclear if there will be a quad-core option, but I wouldn't hold my breath. (Intel HM77 chipset means quad-core possibility? It's in the S13A specs)
Graphic card for both models will be a Nvidia GeForce 640M LE (come on, Sony!). 1GB of memory to S13, 2GB to S13A. Stamina/Speed switch persists, like previous pictures showed.
S13A comes with 1600x900 display, 1366x768 for S13.
Base prices: 849 euros for S13, 1699 euros (!) for S13A (couldn't confirm, but I'm guessing it will only come with SSDs).
Integrated LTE option for S13A.

I'm not exactly thinking they made lots of progress here...

 

S13A probably comes with Blu-Ray drive as well.

Prob not too much progress but there are some solid upgrades here. 640M LE is much more powerful then the 6470M, and even the 6630M.

I think they have had to hold back because of the Z Series which is a shame because it would be very easy to make a spiritul Z successor here, considering higher spec models come with carbon fiber and VAIO Premium Displays.

It should be noted that Asian Sony models do tend to differ from European & American ones. I have a VAIO SB with a Core i7, which isn't offered in America I don't believe..not sure about Europe.

Hopefully there is an Asian model with the quad-core i7.

 

great find. +1 rep for you

i wonder why SONY went with NVIDIA this time around. AMD's GCN is extremely power efficient and has a much better yield than NVIDIA's Kepler in TSMC's 28nm fabs. besides, AMD now has a competing switchable graphics technology called Enduro. although GeForce 640m is not half bad either; i don't know what LE stands for there, but let's hope it's not some crippled, low-performance DDR3 version. according to the benchmarks, it performs around and a bit better than 6770m (which is rebadged to 7690m XT), so something like 7730m or 7750m would do the job as well.

also, from those pictures, it looks like the palmrest has a Z-like design rather than the current Sx-like design.


EDIT: SONY at its best again! it looks like 640m LE is indeed a DDR3 version. from here:

20% less performance compared to the normal 640m, so it should be roughly around the current 6630m-6650m. besides, a Fermi-based GPU? come on now!

 

It's a bit more expensive than I'd like. But on the other hand the SA13Z pre configured models was too expensive even when I bought it, buying the user configured model with top specs except for SSD storage and then buying the SSD oneself made a huge difference in price.

Port configuration is like the current models except that one USB 2 slot has been replaced with a USB 3.0.
The machine is a bit heavier than the current one but that's probably the optical drive that makes the difference: slot-in requires more mechanics in the drive, the slot part replaces a plastic bezel with some extra metal and blue-ray drives tend to be heavier than dvd only ones.
LTE isn't of interest for me but it's a nice option I guess.
Let's hope the premium screen have some wider view angles than the current one

 

Will it depends IF this is a Fermi based card right? It might be the Kepler version, and then it should still get around same performance as a 555m, which is roughly 3000-4000 more points in 3dmark06. If it can achieve that, it would make me happy.



I am sad about the stupid optical driver. What a waste of space, time and money. And now it can't changed for a second HDD??? Pffftttttttt....


like this gigabyte: Gigabyte U2442V Ultrabook with Nvidia Graphics Hands on - YouTube

 

Sure it can. It requires a bit more work to get access to the bay but otherwise it isn't a problem. Anyone with a screwdriver could do it.

 

Not sure if this has been posted yet, some video footage of the S13A and S15
S13A
S15

Seems like not much vents for airflow?

Hopfully S15 will have a version that gets the i7-QM, hd premium display too. And that the 640M LE will be kepler version.

It would be nice to be able to switch out the optical drive for a large backup hdd. Wonder if it will be difficult to ownself upgrade?

 

Probably have to wait till someone designs a proper caddy. But it should be relatively easy.

 

compared to old SA:

Newegg TV: SONY VAIO SA Series Notebook Overview - YouTube


New SA has no vents in the bottom, but half the old laptop had vents out of the bottom.

But new SA have little vents on the sides of the laptop.. on the edge part between the side edges and directly underneath. but can those areas give enough airflow?

 

From what I could get from German articles, S15 will get both i7 quad-core (as an option) and 1920x1080 IPS display (standard in all models).

I've read an article on AnandTech about Nvidia 600M series, and the 640M LE could be based on Fermi or Kepler. We will have to wait to see which one they chose.

 

which 555m? there are apparently 5 different versions of that card in the wild. (good job NVIDIA! ) i think the Fermi-based GPU will draw more power; Fermi runs hotter than Kepler. besides, the Kepler-based 640m LE has 20% less core clock speed compared to the normal 640m, so about 20% less performance is to be expected. besides, it will use DDR3 chips for video RAM, so again less performance...which brings it down to about the same level of performance as 6730m. an upgrade over the current 6630m, yes, but not a sizable one.

you can open the laptop, remove the internal optical drive, install an HDD inside a caddy, and put the caddy in the laptop; that will work, but you'll end up with a slot with no use on the side of the notebook.

by the way, it looks like that the headphone jack now supports a microphone, i.e. it's a combined headphone/microphone jack. that's something positive.

oh, and what's up with the tiny air vents? is SONY out of its mind, putting an Ivy Bridge processor inside a small chassis with no air vent? i can just imagine what noise the intake of the cool air would make with the fan sucking all that air through those tiny vents.

this is off-topic, but that Gigabyte ultrabook looks nice and has nice specs: 14" 1600x900 display, full-power Ivy Bridge CPU (in the N version; the V variant will get a ULV version), Kepler-based 640m GPU, thunderbolt, 4 USB ports (2 x USB2.0, 2 x USB3.0)...i'm impressed.

 

Could it mean that the i7 in the new SA is ULV processor? to draw less power?



I like that the gigabyte has two major back airvents. it looks like grills on a car, and they are in each side of the laptop. I just wish it was 13-inch and not 14-inch. when the bezel is accounted for, it ends up being close to a 15-incher.

I just think the DVD/BR drive is such a waste of space. it does nothing. I know nobody who still uses their DVD drives. All that extra cooling, less weight and more room for battery.

 

i hope SONY does not put an ULV processor in SA. in fact, i strongly believe that they won't. it just does not make any sense. also, i use the Blu-ray drive in my SA to watch Blu-ray movies (duh!) and to access my music archive from the yesteryears.

 

the specs are out, there is no ulv ivy for the s13

 

Personally, I do use the optical drive in my SB series..I'd be happy to have the PMD aka Z Series but having it built-in is fine.

I'm still hoping there is a quad-core i7 in these new models but certainly not convinced..only appears to be S15 at the moment.

Also, if that model is the one for the sign he is picking up, it's not an S13A just a standard S13. Previous S Series had a combined microphone and headphone jack as well.

 

^ no, the previous S series has only a headphone jack; it's not a hybrid headphone/microphone jack.

 

Wow, the touchpad looks very nice on these new models! This is probably going to be my new laptop, I like it a lot. I just hope the cooling isn't too bad.

 

Good question, I just noticed it on the silver S15, the vent near the ports, perhaps it is for passive cooling whereas the vent near the hinge seems to be the active cooling with the fan, but I don't know.

 

Yes, too bad about the slot, just think of it as an extra cooling vent? :-D

Yes, fan noise and heat might be problem. :-(
And why the vent at the back not changed position? Seems terribly easy to be blocked by the lid hinge. Unless they had made the hinge such that can no longer bend so much backwards.

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

 

Vaio Display Premium as in Z and NVIDIA? This is my next laptop!

 

^S15 (formerly SE) has always had an IPS display.

 

^ Actually I am talking about S13A!

 

^S13A that I've seen is same panel as the SA - high res, low quality.

 

^ Following website lists S13A to have optional "Vaio Display Premium" as in Z series and "Vaio Display Plus" for S13 as in SA & SB series!
I hope it is right and S13A can become true successor of 2010 Z1 series which is a dream come true!

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...tIGzCg&usg=AFQjCNEBOxWkw1561m50dhM5gsvlywLI9g

 

^I don't blame you for getting your hopes up, but I'm telling you, the S13A that I played with had the exact same 1600x900 panel as the SA. Washed out, poor viewing angles, etc. I haven't played with an S13A since late January, so I suppose Sony could've changed the panel. Keep in mind that it definitely won't be the Z's panel as they are different sizes.

 

Sony page on Australia has outed some of the models for the Asia Pacific region.

S15116GG - Intel Core i7-3612QM (Quad Core, 2.1Ghz to 3.1Ghz), Windows 7 Professional, 4GB DDR3L RAM, 750GB 5400rpm HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE 2GB, DVD Burner, 1920x1080 VAIO Display Plus, 4 hours battery. $1799 AU

S13116FG - Intel Core i5-3210M (Dual Core, 2.5Ghz to 3.1Ghz), Windows 7 Home Premium, 4GB DDR3L RAM, 640GB 5400rpm HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE 1GB, DVD Burner, 1366x768 VAIO Display Plus, 6 hours battery. $1499 AU.

S13118GG - Intel Core i7-3520M (Dual Core, 2.9Ghz to 3.6Ghz). Windows 7 Professional, 4GB DDR3L RAM, 750GB 5400rpm HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE 1GB, DVD Burner, 1366x768 VAIO Display Plus, 5.5 hours battery. $1899 AU

S13A15GG - Intel Core i7-3520M (Dual Core, 2.9Ghz to 3.6Ghz), Windows 7 Professional, 8GB DDR3L RAM, 750GB 5400rpm HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE 2GB, DVD Burner, 1600x900 VAIO Display Premium, 5 hours battery. $2299 AU

S13A16GG - Intel Core i7-3520M (Dual Core, 2.9Ghz to 3.6Ghz, Windows 7 Professional, 8GB DDR3L RAM, 256GB (128GB x 2 RAID 0) SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE 2GB, DVD Burner, 1600x900 VAIO Display Premium, 5.5 hours battery. $2899 AU

Australia only gets some models, so expect a few others, I know there is a 15" model below the one listed here, as well as plenty of other lower end 13" models but unable to find specs.

Not terribly impressed, might be grabbing an E14 Premium instead considering it is also $1499 in Australia, but quad-core, fairly decent graphics card, better screen then same priced S Series.

EDIT: All prices are now available.

 

I've seen them side by side ('old' SA and new S13A), viewing angles are more or less the same but colours are much, much better on S13A. Almost as good as the Z when you look at the screens from the best angle. The minute you start tilting or rotating the display, the Z is still much better. But I think it's a good improvement for the high end S

 

At least they don't force you into the SSD for the premium (so I can upgrade myself). But put that 3612 in the 13"! That's why Intel made a 35W QC. I'm sure the 13" macbook will have it.

 

It's kinda crappy though, these S Series are very expensive and deliberately hamstrung so as not to harm Z Series sales.

The 14" E Series Premium model we get over here offers more features at a lower price then these S Series models. Admittedly it is a fair bit bigger, but battery life is quite similar despite the quad core chip and larger display.

 

Is this the page?

 

Too bad :/
Both color and contrast is good* on my SA, the only problem is that the view angles are so bad it's impossible to get good colors simultaneously on the top & bottom of the screen.

(* IMHO. Have seen better screens though)

 

It is crappy. The probelm is they're trying to have 3 lines of ultraportables: the T, S and Z. So they don't want much overlap, especially on anything that would canabalize Z sales. People may disagree, but I think they are just trying to buy another year on that line before they end it. The market for the Z is shrinking with all the new ultraportables. It no longer has dedicated graphics or an optical drive, its only advantage over a legit ultrabook is the 35W cpu. There is no reason to get a Z over a S9 for instance, unless you truly need that extra power for something that isn't gaming or you like the dock. So Sony does a half-assed refresh of the S and Z and comes out with a fairly ho-hum ultrabook to buy time. Next year I expect they will have the high-powered S and a slimmed-down T, both with plenty of cost-inflating upgrades. A $2000 Z next year would be a colossal failure.

 

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So the quad-core.. 4 hours of battery? goddamit. that's the cost huh? and if you have the sheet battery?

i want the gaming performance, but at what cost of battery? i hope we will see some reviews of people running around with the sheet battery and tests gaming capabillities.

The Clevo W110ER 11'6 incher does not have great battery either. I guess that its just impossible not to burn through.

 

How come they say it's Premium display if it has poor viewing angles???

 

Complaining about a 4 hour battery life on a quad core thin and light with discrete graphics is sort of like complaining about fuel economy on a Ferrari. Just sayin....

 

With sheet battery the 15" model I posted has 8 hours battery life.

Posts came from Sony Australia, from a page similar to that listed on Asia Pacific.

It has now been deleted on Sony Australia...and Sony Asia pacific by the looks of it.

 

how so? it is optimus so why would that matter when you are not gaming?


CPU wise, it just surprised me. I thought quad-cores were power efficent at delegating the computer tasks on multiple threads thus reducing the work load on a single processor, and with HT and turbo-boost, I just didnt imagine there would be a penalty. But I have never had a mobile Quad CPU, so I wouldn't know.

 

Don't compare apples and oranges. The screen is different too, higher resolution screens consume more power and IPS screens are even more thirsty.

 

Quad core is rarely (never) more efficient. And even with video switching, the gpu and cooling solution occupy SPACE in the laptop, this means less space for battery.

 

Ok, that is good to know. That might make me want to go for Dual-Core then.

 

Only real issue.... Sony isn't the best at estimating battery life, always aiming high. So if Sony says it's four hours, I don't see the real world battery life being great.





THOUGH... 5.5 hours on S13A is about how much I get with my current SA. Seems okay, especially since these estimates are being driven by the i7 SKU (and the i5 SKU seems better, though other factors apply). I'm just still worried since Sony did claim I could get 7 hours (and 14 with slice) out of my current laptop, lol....

 

but when they test their battery ain't it like in crazy power saving mode, 30% brightness, WLAN disabled, bluetooth disabled, only word processing type stuff?

 

I find the battery estimates on the Asia site are more or less spot on for my use

USA site seems to overestimate